PADRES: Street latest in long line of Padres closers to make All-Star team

JEFF SANDERS jsanders@nctimes.com

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SAN DIEGO ---- Bud Black was sure Huston Street had made an All-Star Game or two when he pulled his closer into the visiting manager's office in Colorado last week with word that an injury-interrupted campaign wasn't going keep him from Tuesday's Midsummer Classic.

The real stunner? Street ---- a College World Series champ and the 2005 AL Rookie of the Year with nearly 200 saves over an eight-year career ---- had never been selected to an All-Star Game.

"I thought he'd made some," Black said. "I think I've voted for him a couple of different times; I think he's even led the league at the All-Star break at least one time in saves.

"His career work is indicative of All-Star stuff. You look at his ERA. You look at his numbers. That's All-Star type material. I was surprised he hadn't made it."

Of course, Padres closers pitching in All-Star Games isn't surprising around these parts.

Trevor Hoffman fashioned six of his seven All-Star seasons in a Padres uniform, including his first during a league-leading 53-save campaign; Mark Davis earned one of his two All-Star nods on the way to picking up his Cy Young hardware; and Heath Bell was selected to three straight Midsummer Classics before departing via free agency in December.

Hall-of-Famers Rollie Fingers and Goose Gossage also put together All-Star seasons as Padres late in their careers.

Now, here's Street, flying well below the radar on a 53-loss team without a whole lot of fanfare to go with 24 innings pitched this year, the fewest among any pitchers selected to this year's game.

"I was surprised," said Street, who has a 1.13 earned-run average. "I felt like I've pitched well, but when you're injured and miss time ... well, that's missed time."

Street's 2012 campaign, though, has been plenty notable in its own right, even with 29 games missed because of a strained right lat.

Acquired in the offseason from the Rockies for Nick Schmidt and cash considerations, Street has converted all 13 save opportunities, hasn't allowed a run over his last 10 appearances, hasn't surrendered a homer this year and is sitting on career-best marks in strikeouts-per-nine innings (12.0) and WHIP (0.750).

Sure, he doesn't light up the radar gun the way Reds All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman did over the weekend in Petco, but Street has been plenty good spotting up a fastball (88.7) and sinker (89.1) sitting at career-low velocities, according to fangraphs.com's PitchFx charts.

"I've been spoiled since I've been here because we've always had good closers," Padres third baseman Chase Headley said. "It's nothing new. He's doing it in a different way than some of the other guys did. He's not necessarily relying on pure stuff to get guys out. He's changing speeds. He's locating.

"And it's been just as effective. And when it comes down to it, it's all about getting the job done, and he's done a great job of that."

How long Street continues that job in a Padres uniform is anyone's guess.

He and outfielder Carlos Quentin are free agents after the season and both names are tumbling in the rumor mill as the July 31 non-waiver trading deadline approaches. Street, though, hasn't concerned himself with travel plans beyond arrangements to and from Tuesday's game in Kansas City.

After all, he has been traded twice before. Worrying about what will or won't happen won't do him a bit of good.

"You just show up every day," Street said. "I've learned a while ago not to worry about what I can't control. I'm a baseball player and I'm going to play baseball as hard as I can play.

"When I wake up, whatever uniform they put across my chest, that's who I'm going to play for."

Today, it's a Padres uniform ---- in an All-Star game for the first time in an already decorated career.

"It's a tough team to make," Street said. "I think everybody feels like they had a chance a few years. That's why it's such an honor and a privilege. ... To get in this year, it's absolutely special."